Fluvanna County High School’s varsity soccer team has set high goals for the upcoming season. With the season just kicking off, varsity head coach Earl Gibson is scrambling to get the team ready for a competitive district. “We are the only hope left for Fluvanna to produce a winning team this year,” said Gibson as he emphasized this message to his players on March 4 at the team meeting.

With district powerhouses like the Western Albemarle Warriors and the Albemarle Patriots, the experienced, tightly-knit team will have to pull together to come out on top. The FCHS soccer program has always been a solid program and has been a continual competing factor in the district. With a couple rough years in the past, following the winning legacy by ex-coach Patrick Dieter, Sr., the team looks to re-spark that flame this year.

With eight graduating seniors this year, many of the players and fans are very aware that this is the year Fluvanna has the best chance of winning Regionals and States. “As long as we can stay healthy and we work hard, we will succeed,” said team captain and senior Carter Allbaugh. “With a core group of eight seniors who have played together since childhood, we should be in pretty good hands,” he added.

The team is comprised of eight seniors, five juniors, two sophomores and two freshman, making the team extremely diverse in age. The team has two starting goalkeepers who are both seniors, Tyler Marshal and Nicolai Jackson. “Whether I start or not, or even see playing time, it doesn’t matter. I will do whatever is takes to have my team win,” said Jackson.

The team’s first test of strength was a scrimmage match on March 7 at William Monroe High School, where the team fell 1-0 to a last-minute goal. Next, they will jump into a very difficult season. With fourteen games this year, they begin the season on March 18 against Spotswood, followed by their match against a traditionally less competitive team, Louisa County, on March 25. Their final game will be on May 16 against Charlottesville City High School at home.

In the team huddle right before the match against William Monroe, senior striker Marcus Ditta summed up the team’s hopes for the season. “Most of us have all dreamed of the day we would be able to play varsity soccer our senior year. Now that we’re here, let’s make the most of it and play every game like it’s our last.”